Life Insurance For Overweight and Obese Americans

Know the Essentials of Life Insurance for Overweight People

Most of us are overweight… two-thirds of all Americans, say health experts. According to the CDC, 69% of adults 20-years-old and older are either overweight or obese. Given these statistics, there’s a good chance you fall into this category and that is probably why you are researching the odds of getting life insurance. The answer is yes… there is life insurance for overweight people. But what can lead to frustration among applicants is that they are often placed into higher risk life insurance classifications for which they pay higher prices. Add to this, other health problems sometimes associated with being overweight and premium rates go up even more.

Obesity is common, serious and costly

Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer, some of the leading causes of preventable death.

The estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the U.S. was $147 billion in 2008 U.S. dollars; the medical costs for people who are obese were $1,429 higher than those of normal weight.

Know Your Height/Weight Ratio

That is one of the key factors insurance carriers look at to determine your life insurance quote… the estimated price you will pay for a policy. These companies assess your weight/height ratio; in the industry, it is called your “build.” These tables… also called your Body Mass Index (BMI)… will determine the range of life insurance risk classes into which you might be placed for purposes of pricing your policy.

Find out if your weight is healthy. In the BMI chart below, find your height and weight square.

The color of the square will show you if you are a healthy weight, overweight, or obese.

Sample Body Mass Index Weight/Height Chart

Source: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Public Health Service

National Institutes of Health

Guide to a Healthy Weight

You have a healthy weight if your BMI is 18.5 to 24.9.

You are overweight if your BMI is 25 or higher.

You are obese if your BMI is 30 or higher.

Life Insurance Companies Have Different Weight Chart and Guidelines

Insurance companies have different height/weight tables and criteria to determine the definition of overweight. So one insurance carrier can categorize you as a “normal build” and give you a better rate, while another company can rate you in a more expensive risk class. That is why independent life insurance agent/brokers are the best choice for you because they provide quotes from different companies who will assess your height and weight specifications in the most positive light. The fact that they are unbiased and work for you, not the insurer, means they will shop around to find you the best company and rates for your particular situation.

Get started now to see where you fall in the life insurance overweight tables and ratings. You might be surprised and get a better rate than you thought. Begin with a candid discussion with a Licensed Life Insurance Agent who can guide you on the right path. [email protected], 1.800.521.7873.